Selective printing apparatus

ABSTRACT

There are disclosed method and apparatus for selectively printing human readable characters and a machine readable code on record members in the form of tickets, tags or labels. A disclosed method of printing relates to selective printing using one or more printing bands and coupling driving means with each band to drive each printing band a predetermined distance to a position at which the type element corresponding to the selected indicium is moved to the printing zone. This method can be carried out using one type of print head with printing bands which are automatically, individually, and selectively moved or shifted to a printing zone to print the selected indicia. Another disclosed method is used to selectively position printing members of the bar-type to print bar codes. This method can be carried out by using another type of print head which has automatically, individually, and selectively settable bar-shaped printing members and which applies a machine readable code to the record members in predetermined relationship with respect to an aligner. There are three print heads of the one type and one print head of the other type for printing in stages at different locations on the record members.

United States Patent 1191 Hamisch, Jr.

1 SELECTIVE PRINTING APPARATUS Paul H. Hamisch, Jr., Bellbrook, Ohio[73] Assignee: Monarch Marking Systems, ,lnc.,

Dayton, Ohio [22] Filed: Nov. 24, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 92,367

[75] Inventor:

3,045,796 7/1962 Scribner 101/109 X 3,089,413 5/1963 MacNeill et a1.101/93 C 3,307,676 3/1967 Hickerson 101/110 X 3,380,378 4/1968 Edwardset a1. 101/1 11 3,665,850 5/1972 Berger et a1. 101/111 X FOREIGN PATENTSOR APPLICATIONS 1,259,908 8/1963 Germany 101/111 1 June 3, 1975 PrimaryExaminer-Edgar S. Burr Assistant ExaminerEdward M. Coven Attorney,Agent, or Firm-Joseph .1. Grass 5 7 ABSTRACT There are disclosed methodand apparatus for selectively printing human readable characters and amachine readable code on record members in the form of tickets, tags orlabels. A disclosed method of printing relates to selective printingusing one or more printing bands and coupling driving means with eachband to drive each printing band a predetermined distance to a positionat which the type element corresponding to the selected indicium ismoved to the printing zone. This method can be carried out using onetype of print head with printing bands which are automatically,individually, and selectively moved or shifted to a printing zone toprint the selected indicia. Another disclosed method is used toselectively position printing members of the bar-type to print barcodes. This method can be carried out by using another type of printhead which has automatically, individually, and selectively settablebar-shaped printing members and which applies a machine readable code tothe record members in predetermined relationship with respect to analigner. There are three print heads of the one type and one print headof the other type for printing in stages at different locations on therecord mem bers.

7 Claims, 23 Drawing Figures Pm'EifiEmuras ms SHEET 1 3,8 5; 52

INVENTOR PAUL H. HAMISCH, JR.

A TTORNEY PATENTEDJUM ms SHEET 2 3.886; 862

FIG-3 Pmmmmc m5 assassz SHEET 4 aieaaesz PATENTEUJUI:

SHEET aseslssz SHEET r w@ G\ amt SELECTIVE PRINTING APPARATUS FIELD OFTHE INVENTION This invention relates to the art of selective coding andprinting.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention comprises method and apparatusfor selectively setting one or more printing bands to print the desiredindicia on a record. Each band is passed around a support by couplingdriving means to the band at the selected time so that the band isdriven the desired distance, and driving a platen simultaneously intocooperation with the printing bands following selection. Specificapparatus for practicing the method comprises a ratchet individual toeach printing band, a pawl individual to each ratchet, a latch for eachpawl, and electromagnetic means for tripping each latch means so thatthe pawl can drive the respective ratchet to effect advance of therespective printing band to the printing zone to permit the selectedindicium.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view ofapparatus for carrying out the method of the invention including aplurality of print heads for printing human readable characters and acode head for printing a code on the record members;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of pressure sensitive labels mounted on abacking strip showing the stages at which the printing is accomplished;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1',

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 44 of FIG. 3',

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken generally along line 6-6 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary view showing the mechanism for setting theprinting bands, the mechanism being in its advanced or reset position;

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 7, but showing print ing bands beingset to print the selected indicium;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary elevational view showing the manner in which apawl, a latch, a rotary ratchet driver and an operator are disposed inan ineffective position;

FIG. 10 is an elevational view similar to FIG. 9 but showing theoperator as driving the latch out of the latched position and causingthe pawl to engage the rotary ratchet driver;

FIG. 11 is a view of the other side of the apparatus from the side shownin FIG. 5;

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary elevational view showing the manner in whichone end of the printing bands is adjustably connected to the driver, inone adjusted position;

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary elevational view similar to FIG. 12, butshowing another adjusted position;

FIG. 14 is an exploded perspective view of three of the print headsshown also in FIG. 1;

FIG. 15 is a fragmentary elevational view showing means for conditioningthe printing members of the code head in reset, the set, and the printmodes;

FIG. 16 is a graph showing the relationship of the cam for conditioningthe code head and the cam for setting the select or solenoids atdifferent operative positions with respect to latches in the code head;

FIG. 17 is a sectional view through the code head while in the printingmode;

FIG. 18 is a fragmentary sectional view of the code head while in thereset mode;

FIG. 19 is a fragmentary sectional view of the code head in the setmode;

FIG. 20 is a fragmentary sectional view of the code head which issimilar to FIG. 18 showing one set of components in the print mode;

FIG. 21 is a bottom plan view of the code head with various parts brokenaway for clarity;

FIG. 22 is an exploded fragmentary perspective view of one of theselector rings and a solenoid; and

FIG. 23 is a bottom plan view showing the printing members of the codehead.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to FIGS. 1 and 3,there are shown fragmentary portions of a printing apparatus generallyindicated at 30 for printing human readable indicia and machine readablecodes on record members 31 such as tickets, tags or labels. The recordmembers 31 are shown to be drawn off a supply roll 32 by feed means (notshown). The record members 31, in the illustrated embodiment, are shownto comprise pressure sensitive labels 31' releasably mounted on backingmaterial in the form of an elongated web 31". The web of record members31 is progressively passed to a first printing stage or station 33,thereafter to a second stage or station 34, and thereafter to a thirdstage or station 35. Printing at the stages 33, 34 and 35 is selectivelyaccomplished in that the indicia printed at these stages can be variedand more particularly can be automatically changed in response toelectronic signals from associated controls not disclosed in the subjectapplication. Although selection is accomplished electronically, shiftingof the operative mechanical elements used in printing both the humanreadable characters or indicia and the machine readable codes iseffected by a drive mechanism generally indicated at 37 which is commonto the printing mechanisms at the stages 33, 34 and 35.

With reference to FIG. 2, one data line D1 is printed on record member31'a at stage 33, while other data lines D1 and D2 is printed on recordmember 31'b at stage 34, and while a code C1 is printed and an alignerhole A1 is punched on record member 31C at stage 35. The drive mechanism37 is shown to include an electric motor 38 coupled to a drive shaft 39by a pulley type speed reducer 40. Clutches 41, 42, 43 and 43' mountedby the shaft 39 are individually and selectively operable to driverespective eccentric 44, eccentric 45 and gear 48, a cam 46, and a cam47. The gear 48 which is driven at the same time the eccentric 45 isdriven in response to engagement of the clutch 42, drives a series ofgears 49, 50, 51, 52 and S3. The gear 53 is directly coupled to aneccentric 54, both of which are rotatably mounted to a rotatable shaft55. As the gears 48-53 do not affect any change in the gear ratio, theshafts 39 and 55 rotate at the same angular speed. The cam 46 operates afollower arm 56 which is used in progressive resetting, setting andprinting modes of operation of a code head generally indicated at 57.The cam 47 is a barrel type cam in which a roller type follower 58 (FIG.3) tracks a groove 59 in the cam 47. The roller 58 is carried by afollower arm 60 pivotally mounted by a shaft 61 which is fixed to theframe 62 by a bracket 63.

With reference to FIG. 14 there is shown a fragmentary explodedperspective view of print heads 64, 65, and 66 and respective selectormechanisms 64', 65 and 66'. The selector mechanisms 64, 65' and 66' areshown to be disposed between a pair of frame plates 67 and 68 eachinclude a pair of arcuate elongated slots 69 and 70 through which resetmembers or rods 71 and pawl carrying shaft 72 and latch carrying shaft73 of the respective selector mechanisms 64, 65' and 66' extend. Opposedshaft mounting members 74 and 75 secured to respective frame plates 67and 68 by fasteners 76 mount fixed shaft 77 and rotatable shaft 78. Theshafts 77 and 78 are received in respective bores 77' and 78' in themembers 74 and 75.

As there are six gears 48-53, the shafts 39 and 55 rotate in oppositedirections. Consequently, eccentrics 45 and 54 drive respective selectorarms 79 and 80 in opposite directions. As selector arm 81 is alsomounted to the fixed shaft 77 it oscillates in the same direction as theselector arm 79 assuming respective clutches 41 and 42 are engaged. Theclutches 41 and 42, as well as the clutches 43 and 43', are of thesingle-revolution electromagnetic operated type. Every time clutches 41and 42 are engaged the respective selector arm 81 and the respectiveselector arms 79 and 80 rotate through predetermined angles in onedirection during the resetting cycle. When the resetting cycle iscomplete, the continued rotation of the shaft 39 causes the arms 81, and79 and 80 to rotate through the same angles in the opposite direction inthe setting cycle. The selector arms 79, 80 and 81 are driven byrespective eccentrics 45, 54, and 44. Pivotally connected to theeccentric 45 at one end and the selector arm 79 at the other end is aconnecting rod 79'. Eccentric 54 is connected to its respective selectorarm 80 by a connecting rod 80', and the eccentric 44 is connected to itsrespective selector arm 81 by a connecting rod 81' (FIG. 3). Eccentrics44, 45 and 54 have respective guide plates 44', 45' and 54'.

As the print heads 64, 65 and 66 and the respective selector mechanisms64', 65' and 66 are similar in construction, only the printing head 65and its respective selector mechanism 65 will be discussed in detail.With particular reference to FIG. 6, the selector arm 79 is shown tocomprise arms 79a, 79b and 790. The selector arm 79a is secured to a hub82 which rotates relative to the shaft 77. Shafts 72 and 73 are securedat their ends to the arms 79b and 79c, thereby securely connecting thearms 79b and 79c together. Arms 79b and 790 are mounted on a hub 83which is suitably rotatable on the shaft 77. A machine screw 84 is shownin FIG. 6 to pass through arms 79a and 79b and the hub 82 and to bethreaded into the hub 83. A machine screw 85 is shown to pass throughthe arm 79c and to be threaded into the hub 83. A plurality of rotarydrivers 86 and spacers 87 arranged in an alternating pattern are shownto be rotatably received by a bushing 88 received about the hub 83. Thespacers 87 are stationary, being secured to the frame plates 67 and 68by through-bolts 89 which extend through respective holes'89' in thespacers 87. Each of the rotary drivers 86 has a toothed rotary ratchetsegment 90 arranged about a portion of the circumference of each driver86. There is an actuator 91 individual to and associated with eachdriver 86. Each actuator 91 lies in and is movable in the same plane asthe associated driver 86. Each actuator 91 is pivotally mounted on afixed pivot 92 which is common to all the actuators 91. A commoneccentric stop 93 is mounted by the frame plates 67 and 68, so that therest position of all the actuators 91 can be adjusted. Operativelyconnected to each actuator 91 is an electromagnetic device, inparticular, a solenoid 94. In particular, each solenoid 94 has a movablearmature 95 which is connected to the associated arm 91 and acompression spring 96 normally urges the associated arm 91 against thestop 93.

A plurality of pawls 97 are carried by the shaft 72 and a plurality oflatches or latch members 98 are carried by the shaft 73. There is alatch 98 individual to each pawl 97 and each pawl 97 is associated withthe ratchet segment 90 of the respective driver 86. Each latch 98 isnormally latched to its respective pawl 97 by the end of an arm 99 ofthe latch member 98 being in abutment with a stop face 100 of the pawl97.

With reference to FIGS. 7-10, assume that the eccentric 45 is startingto drive the selector arm 79 counter-clockwise. All the pawls 97 carriedby the selector arm 79 will move in an arc over the respective ratchetsegments 90 of the respective rotary drivers 86. Considering first theoperation of only one driver 86, the associated actuator 91, the pawl 97and the latch 98, assume that the selector arm 79 is rotatingcounterclockwise in the direction of arrow 100'. When the selector arm79 has rotated through the proper angle as determined by the electroniccontrols (not shown), as sociated solenoid 94 is energized thereby onlymomentarily pivoting the actuator 91 counterclockwise against the forceof the spring 96 and tripping the latch 98 which is moved from theposition shown in FIG. 9 to the position shown in FIG. 10. Thereupon, aleading edge 101 of the latch 98 engages appropriate cam 102 of theactuator 91. The cam 102 is so located with respect to the ratchetsegment 90 that when the solenoid 94 is energized the pawl 97 willengage with the proper tooth of the ratchet segment 90 as shown in FIG.10. The are through which the actuator arm 79 rotates is dependent uponthe amount of eccentricity of the eccentric 45. As soon as the pawl 97engages the proper tooth of the ratchet segment 90 rotation of therotary driver 86 commences. The arm 79 and the pawl 97 will continue torotate until the eccentric 45 comes to the limit of its travel which is360 from its starting point which is illustrated by the phantom lineportion in FIG. 8; in this position the shaft 39 has rotated through180, and now the selection operation is complete.

Associated with the driver 86 is an elongated flexible printing band102' having a plurality of integral type elements or members 103.Rotation of the driver 86 will cause the printing band 102 to shiftacross an idler support roller 104 so that a selected one of the typeelements or members 103 will be brought to the printing zone or station33. Thus the angle through which the driver 86 rotates determines thedistance through which the printing band 102' is shifted across thesupport 104.

Each printing band has an enlarged lug 105 at each end which is receivedin an enlarged recess 106 in an adjustable member 107. Each adjustablemember 107 is received in a socket 108 of the wheel 86. A portion 109 ofthe printing band 102' passes through a narrow slot 110 in theadjustable member 107. With the lug 105 received in the enlarged recess106 the band 102 can pass through opening 111 provided at the peripheryof the driver 86 and at the end of the socket 108.

Along a portion of the circumference of the adjustable member 107 thereare equally radially spaced-apart semi-circular recesses 112. There areadjacent equally radially spaced-apart semi-circular recesses 113 in thesocket 108. The recesses 112 are radially spaced apart at greater anglesthan the recesses 113, thereby providing a vernier setting between eachadjustable member 107 and its respective socket 108. When the adjustmenthas been made a split pin 107' is driven into the space defined by thetwo recesses 112 and 113 which are aligned with each other. FIGS. 12 and13 show the member disposed in different rotational positions in socket108. When the printing band 102 is driven through a predetermineddistance by its respective pawl 97 it will bring the selected typeelement 103 precisely to the printing zone 33 and yet, printing band102' is held under the proper tension at all times. As shown in FIGS. 7,8 and 14, the printing band 102' is passed around a roller 114 adjacentthe respective ratchet wheel 86. As best shown in FIGS. 6 and 14, theprint head 65, provided with a plurality of printing bands 102, is movedthe desired distance over its support 104 to bring the respectiveprinting element 103 to the printing zone 33. Following the setting ofthe printing bands 102', and the setting of the code head 57 describedin further detail hereinafter a platen 115 raises the record members 31'into printing contact with printing elements 103 to print the selectedindicia. Following movement of the platen 115 away from the printingelements 103, during the next cycle of operation the clutch 42associated with the print heads 79 (and 80) is again operated, thereupondriving the selector arm 79 clockwise (FIG. 7). During this clockwisemovement, the reset rod 71 will contact end 116 of the slot 117 of eachdriver 86 which has been advanced out of its reset position, therebyreturning each of the drivers 86 to its reset position. At the end ofthe reset cycle, a cam portion 118 of the pawl 97 contacts a stop 119thereby pivoting each pawl 97 clockwise, thereby compressing spring 120and latching the latch member 98 in the position shown in FIG. 9.

With reference to FIG. 11, a pair of timing disks 121 and 122 aresecured respectively to arm 81 and shaft 78. As the shaft 78 and the arm81 rotate in response to engagement of clutches 41 and 42, marks 121'and 122' on the timing disks 121 and 122 can be sensed by respectivesensors 121" and 122". For every mark 121 and 122' there is acorresponding tooth on the ratchet segment 90 and a correspondingprinting element 103 on the printing band 102' so that the respectivesolenoid 94 will be operated only when the timing disks 121 and 122 andconsequently the pawls 97 are at the proper position with respect to thedriver 86.

It is apparent that in order to print the data lines D1 and D2 on therecord members 31', in transversely spaced apart relationship as shownin FIG. 2, that the idler support rollers must be slightly offset fromeach other in the transverse direction. This is indicated in FIG. 5 inwhich the print heads 65 and 66 are shown substantially entirely hiddenbehind frame plate 67, and printing band 102' of print head 64 isindicated behind print head 65.

With reference to FIG. 17 the code head 57 is shown to include astationary housing 130 rigidly mounted to the frame 62. The housing 130has an annular side wall 131 and an end wall 132 joined to it. A centralguide generally indicated at 133 has a flange 134 drawn against theshoulder 135 when a nut 136, threadably received by a threaded position137, is tightened. The upper end of the central guide 133 comprises anupper guide portion 138 about which a member 139 is slidably received.Four control rods 140, only one of which is shown in FIG. 17 extend intothe interior of the housing 130 and are operative to move the componentsof the code head 57 into the reset, the set and the print modes.

The lower guide portion 141 of the central guide 133 serves to locateand guide the shanks of the printing members 142 which are disposed inan inner annular row. The printing members 142 have bar-shaped printfaces 142'. As best shown in FIG. 23 the shanks of the printing members142 are trapezoidal in section so that a particular printing member 142is guided partly by the two next adjacent printing members 142. Theprinting members 142 are also guided by an outer guide 143 in the formof an annular tube. The guide 143 is secured at its upper end to anannular member 144 which is secured to another annular member 145. Theannular member 145 is bolted to the end wall 132 by a plurality of bolts146, only one of which is shown in FIG. 17. An outer annular row ofprinting members 147 is guided partly by the outer surface of the outerguide 143, and partly by a guide 148 which encircles the printingmembers 147 and which is held in place by the annular member 145. Theshank of each printing member 147 is also guided partly by an annularmember 149 and an annular member 150. The annular members 149 and 150are secured to each other by machine screws 151. The annular member 150is secured to the lower ends of the control rods 140 by machine screws152. Similarly, an annular member 153 and an annular member 154 securedto each other by a plurality of machine screws 155 and pins 155' serveto guide the upper ends of the printing members 142. The annular member154 is secured to the control rods 140.

An interposer 142a is individual to each printing member 142. Theinterposers 142a are disposed in an annular ring or row as bestindicated in FIG. 21. Each interposer 1420 has a generally circularextension 142b which is received in a socket formed in part by anannular member 156 and an annular member 157. A slotted disk 158sandwiched between members 156 and 157 serves to guide the interposers1420 during their pivotal movements and to maintain the interposers intheir positions in planes which extend through the centerline of thecentral guide 133. The circular extension 142b of each interposer isreceived in one of the open said ended slots of the disk 158. Eachinterposer 142a is urged toward its respective printing member 142 by atension spring 159. A compression spring 160 individual to each printingmember 142 urges that respective printing member 142 downwardly (FIG.17). Each interposer 142a has a latching shoulder 142c which is adaptedto be engaged by a latching shoulder 161 of a respective latch 162.There is a latch 162 individual to each interposer 142a. Each of thelatches 162 is urged toward its respective interposer 142a by acompression spring 163, one end of which abuts member 157 and the otherend of which abuts its respective latch 162. Both of the interposers142a shown in FIG. 17 are in their effective interposing positions, eachof the respective latches 162 having been tripped.

Each latch 162 has a generally C-shaped portion 164 with an opening 165which can receive an extension 166 of a solenoid 167. The extension 166is connected to a lug 168 which can fit into the C-shaped portion 164.The solenoid 167 is bolted to a rotatable annular cage 169 by a pair ofthreaded fasteners 170 at openings 171. A compression spring 172 whichabuts a shoulder 173 of another extension 174 of the armature of eachsolenoid 167 and a plate 175 normally urges the extension 166 and thelug 168 into the position shown in FIG. 17. When energized, the solenoid167 is operative to drive the lug 168 against faces 176 of the C-shapedportion 174 thereby causing the respective latch 162 to move out oflatching cooperation with the associated interposer 142a.

In the illustrated embodiment of the code band 57, there are thirtyprinting members 142, thirty interposers 142a, thirty latches 162 andsix solenoids 167. The cage 169 which mounts the six solenoids 167 canrotate relative to the housing 130 so that the six solenoids 167 arefirst in operative relationship with respect to the C- shaped portions164 of the first six latches. The selected solenoids 167 which areenergized while in this rotational position will cause the respectivelatches 162 to move to their ineffective positions thereby causing therespective interposers 142 to pivot into their effective positions asshown in FIG. 17. The solenoid or solenoids 167 which are not operatedwill not affect the latch position of the respective interposer memberor members 142a. Selection of one of the first six printing members 142is complete. The cage 149 if now rotated through a small angle until thelug 168 of each of the solenoids 167 is in operative relationship withrespect to the C-shaped portions 164 of the second six interposers 162.Again, depending upon which of the solenoids 167 are operated willdetermine which of the latches 162 are moved to its ineffectivepositions thereby permitting the respective interposers 142a to move totheir effective positions. The cage 162 is moved through three moresuccessive steps until the selection operation has been completed forthe third, fourth, and fifth sets of printing members 142.

An interposer 147a is individual to each printing member 147. Theinterposers 147a are disposed in an annular ring or row as bestindicated in FIG. 21. Each interposer 147a has a generally circularextension 147b which is received in a socket formed in part by anannular member 176 and an annular member 177. Spaced apart slotted disks178' guide the interposers 147a during their pivotal movements andmaintain the interposers 147a in their positions in planes which extendthrough the centerline of the guide 133. Each interposer 147a is urgedtoward its respective printing memher 147 by a tension spring 178. Acompression spring 179 individual to each printing member 147 urges therespective printing member 147 downwardly (FIG. 17). Each interposer147a has a latching shoulder 147a which is adapted to be engaged by alatching shoulder 180 of a respective latch 181. Each of the latches 181is urged toward its respective interposer 147a by a compression spring182, one end of which abuts member 177 and the other end of which abutsits respective latch 181. The interposer 1470 on the right side of H6.17 is shown in its ineffective latched position and the interposer 147aon the left side of FIG. 17 is shown in its effective unlatch position.Each latch 181 has a generally C-shaped portion 183 with an opening 184to receive an extension 185 of a solenoid 186. Each solenoid 186 ismounted to a movable selector 187 by means of a plate 188 and fasteners189.

in the illustrated embodiment of the code head 57 there are sixtyprinting members 147, 60 interposers 1470, 60 latches 181 and twelvesolenoids 186. The selector cage 187 which mounts the l2 solenoids 186can rotate relative to the housing 130. At the start of the selectionoperation the twelve solenoids 186 are in operative relationship withrespect to those C-shaped portions 183 of only the first twelve latches181. The solenoids 186 which are energized while in this position willcause the respective latches 181 to move to their ineffective positions,thereby causing the respective interposers 147a to move to theireffective positions. The solenoid or solenoids 186 which are notoperated will not cause the latches 181 to be tripped and consequentlythe respective interposers 147a will not be moved out of theirineffective positions. Selection of one or more of the first twelveprinting members 147 is now complete. The cage 187 is stepped through asmall angle until the lug associated with each of the solenoids 186 isin operative relationship with respect to the C-shaped portions 183 ofonly the second twelve latches 18]. Again, depending upon which of thesolenoids 186 is now operated will determine which of the latches 181 ismoved to its ineffective position thereby permitting the respectiveinterposer 1470 to move to its effective position. Selection of one ormore of the second twelve printing members 147 is now complete. The cage187 is moved through three successive steps until the selectionoperation has been completed for the third, fourth, and fifth sets ofprinting members 147.

The code head 57 operates in the reset, the set, and the print modeseach time it is desired to print a different code. During the resetmode, the member 139 (FIG. 15) is driven on portion C of the cam 46 toits uppermost position as roller 190 carried by follower arm 56approaches high point 191. The arm 56 is pivotally mounted to the frame62 by a pivot pin 192, and the member 139 is connected to the arm 56 bya link 193 and pins 194. Upward movement of the member 139 (P10. 17)will cause the four control rods 140 to raise the set of annular members153 and 154 and the set of annular members 149 and 150. Specifically,shoulder 153' on the member 153 will engage shoulders 142d of printingmembers 142 thereby raising all the printing members 142 against theforces of gravity and springs 159 and 160. Similarly, shoulder 149' ofthe member 149 will engage shoulders 147d of the printing members 147thereby raising all the printing members 147 against the forces ofgravity and springs 178 and 179. As the printing members 142 and 147 areraised, shoulders 1422 and 147e will will engage respective extensions142] and 147f, thereby causing interposers 142a and 147a to pivot intothe latched position in the reset mode illustrated in FIG. 18. Continuedrotation of the cam 46 will cause the roller 190 to travel on portion Aof the cam 46 during which selection by the solenoids 167 and 186 takesplace. this being known as the set mode illustrated in FIG. 19. In theset mode there is a gap between shoulders 153" and those interposers142a and there is a gap between the shoulders 149" and those interposers1470 which are in their effective interposing positions. As the cam 46continues to rotate, the roller 190 starts traveling on section B of thecam 46 thereby lowering the member 139 and its conno] rods 140.Consequently the shoulders 153" and 149" engage all the interposers 142aand 147a which are in their effective interposing positions therebypermitting springs 160 and 179 to drive all the respective printingmembers 142 and 147 which have been selected against an annular stopshoulder 144' and 148 of annular member 148. The selected printingmembers 142 and 147 are locking in the printing position by therespective interposers 142a and 147a during the print mode. Thoseprinting members which were not selected are held in the non-printingposition by the extension 142 and 147f as indicated in FIG. 17 of thedrawing.

A gear segment 200 is secured to the outside of the selector cage 169and a gear segment 201 is secured to the outside of the selector cage187. As there are half as many sets of printing member 142, interposers142a, latches 162 and solenoids 167 as there are printing members 147,interposers 147a, latches 181 and solenoids 186, the cage 169 mustrotate through twice the angle that the cage 187 rotates during eachstep. With reference to FIGS. 3 and 17, the gear segment 200 is engagedby a gear 203 and the gear segment 201 is engaged by a gear 202. Thegear 202 is driven by a pinion 205 secured to a shaft 206. A gear 208secured to the shaft 206 is driven by a gear segment 209 disposed at oneend of follower arm 60. The gears 205 and 202, and the gears 207 and203, are sized so that the gear 203 drives the cage 169 through twicethe angle that gear 202 drives the cage 187. A gear 208 secured to theshaft 206 is driven by a gear segment 209 disposed at one end offollower arm 60. A pulley 210 secured to the shaft 206 drives a pully211 through a belt 212. A timing sector 213 has timing marks 214readable by a stationary reader 215. The reader 215 will generate asignal each time one of the five timing marks 214 is read to provide asignal to the electronic controls. Accordingly selection of the firstset of printing members 142 and 147 as described above can occur only ifthe first timing mark 214 is in the read position, which occurs onlywhen the lugs 168 and 185' are in alignment with and operativelydisposed relative to the first set of respective six latches 162 andrespective twelve latches 181.

Printing at stages 33, 34 and 35 is accomplished simultaneously bymoving the platen 115 relatively toward the print heads 64, 6S and 66and toward the code head 57 simultaneously. In particular, in theillustrated embodiment, the print heads 64, 65 and 66 and the code head57 are stationary during the printing operation but the platen is movedinto printing cooperation with them by any suitable means such as apiston cylinder mechanism 216 (FIG. 17). A punch 217 for forming alignerAl in the record members 31 and a stationary printing member 218 forprinting a start mark Sl are mounted at the end of the guide 133. Eachtime a bar code C1 is printed, the aligner AI will be formed in therecord member 31' and the start mark S1 will be printed on the recordmember.

Other embodiments and modifications of this invention will suggestthemselves to those skilled in the art, and all such of these as comewithin the spirit of this invention are included within its scope asbest defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for printing, comprising: an elongated, flexible printingband having a plurality of type elements extending in a lengthwisedirection, support means about which said printing band is passed sothat one type element is brought to a printing zone at any one time, aratchet coupled to said printing band, drive means including a pawldriven along a predetermined path and cooperable with said ratchet, andmeans for actuating said pawl into cooperation with said ratchet at aselected point along its path so that said printing band is movedthrough a predetermined distance to bring the selected type element intothe printing zone.

2. Apparatus for printing as defined in claim 1, wherein said drivemeans includes an oscillating member; and a latch and said pawl carriedby said oscillating member, said pawl actuating means including atripping member and electromagnetic means, said electromagnetic meansbeing operable to cause said tripping member to trip said latch andcause said pawl to engage and drive said ratchet to bring the selectedtype element to the printing zone.

3. Apparatus for printing as defined in claim 1, wherein said drivemeans includes an oscillating member; a latch, said pawl and a resetmember carried by said oscillating member, said pawl actuating meansincluding tripping means having a tripping member and electromagneticmeans, said electromagnetic means being operable during oscillation ofsaid oscillating member in one direction to cause said tripping memberto trip said latch and cause said pawl to engage said ratchet, saidreset member being operable to reset said pawl, said ratchet, said latchand said printing band to their initial positions during oscillation ofsaid oscillating member in the opposite direction 4. Apparatus forprinting, comprising: an elongated flexible printing band having aplurality of type elements extending in a lengthwise direction, the bandhaving opposite ends, means for advancing said printing band, means forcoupling opposite ends of said band to said band advancing means, saidcoupling means comprising a pair of members adjustable relative to eachother so that upon operation of the advancing means the selected typeelement is brought precisely to a printing zone, said ends of said bandsbeing contoured to be gripped by said adjustable members, and means forlocking each adjustable member in its adjusted position.

5. Printing apparatus as defined in claim 4, wherein said adjustablemembers are rotary members, said coupling means further comprising adrive member and sockets in said drive member for receiving saidadjustable rotary members, and means providing a vernier type adjustmentbetween said adjustable rotary members and said drive member.

6. Apparatus for printing, comprising: a plurality of side-by-side,flexible printing bands each having a plurality of type elementsextending in a lengthwise direction, support means around which theprinting bands pass so that one type element of each printing band is ata printing zone at any one time, all of said printing bands beinginitially at initial positions, means for automatically selecting anindicium to be printed by each band, means responsive to said selectingmeans for driving all said printing bands about said support means topositions at which the type elements corresponding to the selected groupof indicia are at the printing zone, and platen means movable relativeto said type elements at the printing zone for simultaneously printingthe indicia, said driving means includes a ratchet individual to eachprinting band and a pawl controlled by said selecting means andcooperable with said ratchet.

7. Apparatus for printing, comprising: a plurality of side-by-side,flexible printing bands each having a plurality of type elementsextending in a lengthwise direction, support means around which theprinting bands pass so that one type element of each printing band is ata printing zone at any one time, all of said printing bands beinginitially at initial positions, means for automatically selecting anindicium to be printed by each band, means responsive to said selectingmeans for driving all said printing bands about said support means topositions at which the type elements corresponding to the selected groupof indicia are at the printing zone,

platen means movable relative to said type elements at the printing zonefor simultaneously printing the indicia, said driving means include arotary ratchet for each printing band, said bands having ends, said endsof each printing band being secured to the respective ratchet so thatrotation of said ratchet will cause the respective bands to move aboutsaid support means, said driving means further including a pawlcooperable with each respective ratchet, and a latch for latching eachpawl in an ineffective position, said selecting means being operable toselectively trip said latches to cause the pawls to cooperate with therespective ratchets to bring the selected type elements to the printingzone.

1. Apparatus for printing, comprising: an elongated, flexible printingband having a plurality of type elements extending in a lengthwisedirection, support means about which said printing band is passed sothat one type element is brought to a printing zone at any one time, aratchet coupled to said printing band, drive means including a pawldriven along a predetermined path and cooperable with said ratchet, andmeans for actuating said pawl into cooperation with said ratchet at aselected point along its path so that said printing band is movedthrough a predetermined distance to bring the selected type element intothe printing zone.
 1. Apparatus for printing, comprising: an elongated,flexible printing band having a plurality of type elements extending ina lengthwise direction, support means about which said printing band ispassed so that one type element is brought to a printing zone at any onetime, a ratchet coupled to said printing band, drive means including apawl driven along a predetermined path and cooperable with said ratchet,and means for actuating said pawl into cooperation with said ratchet ata selected point along its path so that said printing band is movedthrough a predetermined distance to bring the selected type element intothe printing zone.
 2. Apparatus for printing as defined in claim 1,wherein said drive means includes an oscillating member; and a latch andsaid pawl carried by said oscillating member, said pawl actuating meansincluding a tripping member and electromagnetic means, saidelectromagnetic means being operable to cause said tripping member totrip said latch and cause said pawl to engage and drive said ratchet tobring the selected type element to the printing zone.
 3. Apparatus forprinting as defined in claim 1, wherein said drive means includes anoscillating member; a latch, said pawl and a reset member carried bysaid oscillating member, said pawl actuating means including trippingmeans having a tripping member and electromagnetic means, saidelectromagnetic means being operable during oscillation of saidoscillating member in one direction to cause said tripping member totrip said latch and cause said pawl to engage said ratchet, said resetmember being operable to reset said pawl, said ratchet, said latch andsaid printing band to their initial positions during oscillation of saidoscillating member in the opposite direction
 4. Apparatus for printing,comprising: an elongated flexible printing band having a plurality oftype elements extending in a lengthwise direction, the band havingopposite ends, means for advancing said printing band, means forcoupling opposite ends of said band to said band advancing means, saidcoupling means comprising a pair of members adjustable relative to eachother so that upon operation of the advancing means the selected typeelement is brought precisely to a printing zone, said ends of said bandsbeing contoured to be gripped by said adjustable members, and means forlocking each adjustaBle member in its adjusted position.
 5. Printingapparatus as defined in claim 4, wherein said adjustable members arerotary members, said coupling means further comprising a drive memberand sockets in said drive member for receiving said adjustable rotarymembers, and means providing a vernier type adjustment between saidadjustable rotary members and said drive member.
 6. Apparatus forprinting, comprising: a plurality of side-by-side, flexible printingbands each having a plurality of type elements extending in a lengthwisedirection, support means around which the printing bands pass so thatone type element of each printing band is at a printing zone at any onetime, all of said printing bands being initially at initial positions,means for automatically selecting an indicium to be printed by eachband, means responsive to said selecting means for driving all saidprinting bands about said support means to positions at which the typeelements corresponding to the selected group of indicia are at theprinting zone, and platen means movable relative to said type elementsat the printing zone for simultaneously printing the indicia, saiddriving means includes a ratchet individual to each printing band and apawl controlled by said selecting means and cooperable with saidratchet.